A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has criticised journalist Mehdi Hasan over his recent interview with presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala, describing the exchange as hostile and lacking the standards of professional journalism.
Showunmi, in a statement made available to PLATFORM TIMES, said the encounter between Hasan and Bwala reflected “an attempted public ambush” rather than a serious journalistic engagement aimed at informing viewers.
According to him, there is a clear distinction between tough journalism and outright hostility, noting that while the former serves the public interest, the latter merely serves the ego of the interviewer.
“What viewers witnessed was not a serious interview but an attempted public ambush,” he said.
Showunmi alleged that the interview was marked by an aggressively confrontational tone, repeated interruptions and questions framed more as prosecutorial traps than genuine inquiries into governance.
“Responses were repeatedly interrupted before they could develop. Clarifications were brushed aside. The atmosphere was unmistakable: this was not a conversation designed to inform viewers but a spectacle designed to embarrass the guest,” he stated.
He stressed that professional journalism demands discipline and balance, adding that interviewers must be able to ask difficult questions while allowing their guests the opportunity to properly respond.
“The craft of interviewing requires the ability to ask tough questions while still allowing the guest to articulate answers. It requires intellectual confidence strong enough to permit disagreement without descending into open hostility,” Showunmi said.
The PDP chieftain argued that Nigeria is currently facing numerous national challenges—including economic reforms, security concerns and governance issues—which, he said, should have formed the focus of the interview.
According to him, a responsible journalist would have used the opportunity to interrogate government policies and seek clarity on strategies being deployed by the administration to address pressing national issues.
“Instead, viewers were treated to an exercise in selective outrage and repetitive interruption,” he said.
Showunmi also faulted what he described as insinuations during the interview that political realignments were illegitimate, noting that shifting alliances are a normal feature of democratic politics.
“Democratic politics is built on evolving alliances. Former opponents sometimes become partners when national circumstances demand cooperation. That is not unusual in democratic systems,” he said.
He further warned that when journalists ridicule or attempt to humiliate their guests, it undermines the credibility of the profession.
“The role of the interviewer is to hold power accountable, not to behave like a courtroom prosecutor seeking a viral ‘gotcha’ moment,” he added.
Showunmi urged journalists, particularly in global media platforms, to prioritise substance and professionalism in their engagements with public officials.
According to him, audiences deserve interviews that illuminate policy issues and help citizens understand how leaders plan to tackle the challenges facing their societies.
“Respectful engagement does not weaken journalism; it strengthens it. Firm questioning does not require contempt, and professionalism does not require aggression,” he said.
He concluded that journalism must remain focused on informing the public rather than staging spectacles that prioritise provocation over meaningful discourse.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
